Method and apparatus for biophilically promoting personal relaxation, for reducing physical and/or psychological personal stress and for expediting personal recovery

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for relaxing a person in a stressful environment, such as a health care, business, hospitality or educational setting, provides a person with a choice of selecting for viewing one or more high resolution spatially open, serene natural landscape scenes to which the person is believed to have an innate positive (biophilic) affinity, upon a fabric frame display member mounted upon a flexible wall partition, such as a hospital curtain, a ceiling, a stand or other display member. In one embodiment, the spatially open, serene natural landscape scene is a savanna-type landscape or a like scene to which humans are believed to have a biophilic affinity. The biophilic landscape picture is printed preferably on a flexible fabric by a high resolution sublimation printing process, wherein an image is first scanned into a computer and then transformed by state-of-the-art technology to the fabric herein. The image may also be printed directly on all or a portion of a curtain itself.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/949,215,filed Oct. 10, 1997, U.S. Pat. No. 6,254,527, and which application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/583,473 filed Jan. 5,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,259, and of application Ser. No.08/644,473, filed May 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,633.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of methods anddevices for promoting personal stress reduction and relaxation; moreparticularly, the present invention concerns methods and apparatusesused to expose persons to appropriately selected visual stimuli whichpromote relaxation in intimate settings, such as in hospital roomenvironments, office cubicles, health care institutions, educationalinstitutions, and hospitality accommodations, or other like settings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Positive psychological and physiological responses are elicited inhumans by visual exposure to pleasing landscape images such as picturesof spatially open natural landscapes. (Roger S. Ulrich, 1993,“Biophilia, Biophobia and Natural Landscapes”, Chapter 3, pages 73 to137, in: Stephen R. Kellert and Edward O. Wilson editors, The BiophiliaHypothesis, Island Press, Washington, D.C.) The preferred landscapeimage is a savanna-type landscape. By definition, a savanna-typelandscape is a “grassland with scattered trees or scattered clumps oftrees, a type of community intermediate between grassland and forest”(Eugene P. Odum, 1971, Fundamentals of Ecology, Third Edition, W. B.Saunders Company, Philadelphia, Pa.).

In one of his seminal and theoretical works, renowned evolutionarybiologist Edward 0. Wilson (1984), Biophilia: The Human Bond with OtherSpecies, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.) suggests thathumans are genetically predisposed to respond positively (biophilically)to savanna-like landscapes. After the publication of Wilson's seminalwork on island biogeography (Robert H. MacArthur and Edward 0. Wilson,1967, The Theory of Island Biogeography, Princeton University Press,Princeton, N.J.) and his expansive synthesis on sociobiology (Edward 0.Wilson, 1975, Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, Harvard University Press,Cambridge, Mass.), biologists and others wrote many papers,dissertations and books on these topics of modern bioscience. Like theresponses by the bioscientific community to his 1967 and 1975 works,Wilson's 1984 publication of Biophilia: The Human Bond with OtherSpecies has prompted the writing of many scientific papers by a widediversity of authorities. Among these works on biophilia are two papersespecially relevant to the present invention: the aforecited “Biophilia,Biophobia and Natural Landscapes” by Ulrich, and “Humans, Habitats, andAesthetics” by Judith H. Heerwagen and Gordon H. Orians (1993, Chapter4, pages 138-172, in Stephen R. Kellert and Edward 0. Wilson, editors,The Biophilia Hypothesis, Island Press, Washington, D.C.).

The biophilic theory of Wilson supports the belief that naturalselection favored the survival of paleohominids (ancestors of modernhumans, Homo sapiens) genetically predisposed to inhabiting landscapesdominated by plant life forming vegetation having a physiognomy of asavanna. Such ancestral hominids are viewed as having innate aversionsto desert, densely forested and like landscapes-generally less favorableto paleohominid survival than savannas. Human evolution is believed tohave occurred substantially within tropical savannas in Africa.Predation, food-availability and other selection pressures weregenerally more favorable to human survival and evolution within thesetropical savannas than in other kinds of African landscapes (such astropical rain forest, mountainous, desert and like environments).Selection promoted disproportionately high survival of hominids andhominid genes favoring savanna-oriented behaviors. As evolutionproceeded, there was a build-up and strengthening of genes andgene-combinations further predisposing hominid populations to savannaconditions. Wilson believes that these innate savanna-orientedcharacteristics continue in populations of modern humans and that modernhumans are biophilically predisposed to responding favorably to savannaor savanna-like conditions. Certain embodiments of the present inventionare in accord with this belief of one of the most widely respected andacclaimed biologists in the world today.

In the aforementioned 1993 publication of Ulrich, Ulrich reportsevidence that simulations (including color photographs) of naturalenvironments elicit restorative and other positive responses from humanviewers and suggests that such simulations may serve as at least partialsubstitutes for real nature in terms of eliciting short-term restorativeresponses. Other scientific authorities are mentioned by Ulrich asproviding proof that the viewing of natural settings positively affectsthe viewer by reducing stress (confirmed by such central nervous systemindicators as blood pressure). This reporting by Ulrich is consistentwith the innate biophilic landscape affinity believed by Wilson tocharacterize modern humans. The work of Ulrich suggests that positive(biophilic) responses can be elicited from patients within a very shorttime after patient exposure to wall art showing spatially open serenenatural settings.

However, most attempts to reduce stress in a hospital or therapeuticsetting have been sound-oriented, wherein music or other sounds areelectronically delivered to a patient, where visual images are used toaddress patient well being, the images are either displayed remotely ina far away picture frame, or in optically glare-producing video screens.

Among the earlier background art patents related to methods of patientrecovery stress reduction or promoting relaxation are the following:

U.S. Pat. No. Inventor 3,140,709 Weisz 3,642,941 Kashar 3,773,049Rabichev et al. 3,826,250 Adams 4,047,377 Banks 4,082,918 Chang et al.4,124,022 Gross 4,553,534 Stiegler 4,573,449 Warnke 4,640,267 Lawson4,681,096 Cuervo 4,762,131 Okuda 4,763,428 Fischer 5,219,322 Weathers5,266,070 Hagiwara 5,267,942 Saperston 5,289,438 Gall 5,296,444 Saiki etal 5,304,112 Mrklas 5,352,181 Davis 5,356,368 Monroe et al 5,377,024Dillinger 5,403,263 Rodgers 5,425,699 Spiegel 5,433,223 Moore

The most relevant patents are U.S. Pat. No. 5,403,263 of Rodgers, for amethod of reducing the recovery time and stress associated with surgeryand U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,428 of Fischer for providing a nature scene in ahospital wall-mounted picture frame. Rodgers '263 describes a method toreduce hospital recovery time and stress by providing verbal voice-oversuggestions and soothing anxiolytic music before, during and aftersurgery. Fischer '428 describes the use of wall mounted pictures toassist in patient healing, but does not focus on what pictures to selectother than nature scenes in general.

Weathers (U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,322) describes a reclining chair for amedical patient who is hooked up to an electronic apparatus for thecontrolled presentation of visual and auditory stimuli. Similarly,Mrklas (U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,112) describes a system where a patient isput in a chair in front of an electronic screen and is exposed toelectronic visual images, auditory sounds and other stimuli.

Weisz (U.S. Pat. No. 3,140,709) describes a pain relieving apparatuswherein acoustical sounds such as music are fed through ear phones todivert a patient's attention from pain.

Rabichev et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,773,049) describe an electronicapparatus for treating neuropsychic and somatic disorders withrepetitive exposure of the patient to light, heat and sound radiationsources.

Banks (U.S. Pat. No. 4,047,377) discloses an electronic sleep promotionapparatus wherein a wide band audio frequency generator applies audioimpulses to a person.

Chang et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,082,918) describe an electronic audiodevice which provides analgesic sounds to dental patients.

Gross (U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,022) describes an electronic audio speaker inthe shape of a heart, which provides repetitive slow heartbeat sounds,to relax a person.

Kashar (U.S. Pat. No. 3,643,941) describes a relaxation chambercontaining a plurality of Styrofoam® balls to simulate movement of aperson within a swimming pool. Colored lights are projected upon theStyrofoam® balls to enhance the person's relaxation.

Adams (U.S. Pat. No. 3,826,250) discloses a relaxation chamber includinga lounge chair wherein lights and sounds are electronically provided toa resting person.

Steigler (U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,534) describes a stress-reducing helmetwith an eye shield, wherein electronic images and sounds are transmittedto the wearer.

Warnke (U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,449) describes a method for sleepenhancement and/or relaxation wherein a headphone generates electronicsound pulses, which are provided to an insomniac person to induce sleep.

Lawson (U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,267) and Cuervo (U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,096)both describe methods and associated devices to abate an infant'scrying, wherein electronic sounds or vibrations are scheduled forrepetitive introduction to the infant.

Gall (U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,438) discloses a consciousness-alteringapparatus for persons, wherein multiple sound stimuli are electronicallyprovided to a person.

Monroe (U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,368) describes a method and apparatus foraltering consciousness and inducing sleep by measuringelectroencephalogram (EEG) brain wave forms of a person during sleep orrelaxation, and using sounds to try and reproduce the sleep inducing orrelaxation-inducing brain waves of the person.

Dillinger (U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,024) describes an electronic colorforming image construction device.

Spiegel (U.S. Pat. No. 5,425,699) describes the use of electronicallyproduced sound waves to induce hypnosis in a person.

Okuda (U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,131) discloses an electronic nervestimulation including lights and sounds to treat paralytic patients.

Monroe et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,368) describe a method for predictingwhen a night-shift worker might lose alertness.

Saperston (U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,942) discloses the use of electronicallygenerated sounds to monitor optimal target heart rates in persons.

Davis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,181) describes a method and apparatus forinducing relaxation by providing verbal and musical sounds in ascendingand descending crescendos and phases, to stimulate relaxing alpha andbeta brain waves.

However, Rodgers '263 and most of the above noted background art patentsare directed to electronic sound generating devices to induce relaxationstates in users. Some of these devices, such as the embodiments of Okudais '131 and Kashar '941, involve the use of electronically generatedflashing lights to induce relaxing states of mind.

Furthermore, providing such a repetitive exposure of a patient to music,sounds and/or flashing lights has the disadvantage of being expensive toinstall and also may overstimulate the patient.

Moreover, these background art devices do not describe a method andapparatus for providing biophilic landscape images to persons to promotestress reduction in various stress-filled environments, such as hospitalrooms, office cubicles, health care settings or educationalinstitutions.

Furthermore, the hospital room environment itself has the disadvantageof discouraging exposure of persons to pictures in general, becauseslidable fabric curtains are often drawn around the patient's article offurniture thereby hiding any wall-mounted pictures, such as described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,763,428 of Fisher, from the patient's view.

Fischer also discloses in an unpatented publication entitled “VisualTherapy” the displaying of one of many nature photography scenes in alight box or a lighted electronic video screen in a health care setting.However, the lighted images are subject to optical glare.

The background art of Fischer '428 and the Fischer “Visual Therapy”publication of visually oriented approaches to patient well being isaimed primarily at providing either a reusable lockable means, such as apicture frame, or a light box or video screen, to display pictures thatare only generally described as “having a therapeutic value”, and“particularly well suited to visually involve, distract and occupy theattention of the viewer” of nature photography on the hospital roomwall. There is no specificity as to the theoretical basis for selectionof the nature photography; nor are any selection guidelines presented.

While a hospital curtain exhibits a large, convenient surface upon whichto display pictures, curtains have not been generally used to displayframed pictures, because the weight of a picture frame may distort thecurtain and/or because the rigid picture frame may be a hazardoushindrance obstructing egress in the vicinity of the curtain. Inaddition, light boxes and lighted video screens present otherelectricity related hazards.

Therefore, there is a need for a lightweight, flexible display means forpictures, which can be displayed on a stand or can be attached to ahospital curtain without distorting the curtain and without obstructingegress to the patient in the vicinity of the curtain.

In fact, flexible removable pictures have mainly been provided withininfant cribs to protect an infant's safety, as noted in U. S. Pat. Nos.5,307,574 and 5,125,175 of Huff.

Moreover, imprinted photographic pictures cannot normally be displayedon fabrics, such as curtains, because the images fade with repeatedwashing of the fabric materials.

The technical challenges in providing such cubicle curtain-mountedimages include: (1) Any fabric that is used must either be inherentlyfire retardant or specially topically treated to meet the fireretardancy standards as set forth in National Fire ProtectionAssociation (i.e., NFPA) Code 701. (2) The printing must produce imagesof sufficient high-resolution photo-realism and sufficient size (e.g.,four by five feet) to give the person, such as a hospital patient, theperception of actually being in a natural (i.e., biophilic-like)setting. (3) The photo-realistic image must be printed on inherentlyfire retardant or treated fabric, in a manner that upholds thepost-printing fire retardancy of the fabric and in a manner that enablesthe fabric to be laundered and disinfected at the high water and dryingtemperatures required by hospital sanitary codes and standards whilemaintaining the image quality of the picture.

High resolution, non-fading printing of photographic images on clothfabrics may be obtained by special printing processes, such as, forexample, sublimation printing. Sublimation printing produces imageswhich have high image resolution with much clarity and brilliance,without the visually disturbing effects of glare produced by light boxesor electronic screens, such as described in the Fischer “Visual Therapy”publication.

Among the background art describing sublimation printing include U.S.Pat. No. 5,460,871 of Andersen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,997 of Walsh, U.S.Pat. No. 5,389,493 of Asai, U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,381 of Payne, U.S. Pat.No. 4,997,506 of Recher, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,804,977 of Long.

In sublimation printing, the coloring agents are subliminallytransferred to the fabric. Sublimation printers use sublimation powdersor printer ribbons to produce heat transfers, which release sublimationinks in a wide variety of distinctive colors, as noted in U.S. Pat. No.5,281,499 of Bussard.

Since the resolution quality is achieved with photographic imagesprinted on fabrics by sublimation printing, the fabrics can therefore befire retardant and washable, so that the fabrics can be laundered anddisinfected when washed at high water temperatures with cleaningproducts.

Reusable fabrics are also much easier to clean and maintain thancomplicated light boxes or electronic video screens, and are more easilyinterchangeable than heavy, wall mounted-picture frames.

Therefore, the high water temperatures and cleaning products (which areneeded to bring fabrics up to hospital and other sanitary codes,) do notsubstantially diminish the high resolution and clarity of photographicimages produced by sublimation printing upon a fabric, such as hospitalcurtain material or another suitable fabric attachable to a hospitalcurtain. Moreover, these cleaning methods do not diminish the fireretardancy of the inherently fire retardant fabric.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a methodfor visually and biophilically promoting personal relaxation, such asfor a medical patient, before, during and/or after medical isprocedures, such as surgery or diagnostic testing.

It is also an object of the invention is to provide a method forvisually and biophilically reducing physical and/or psychologicalstress, promoting patient relaxation and expediting recovery in apatient before, during and/or after surgical or medical procedures in ahospital, medical or convalescent setting.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for visually andbiophilically expediting recovery of a medical and/or surgical patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method for visuallyand biophilically promoting surgical patient welfare in a hospital,medical institutional or convalescent setting, or a like environment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a method forvisually exposing a person, such as a medical patient to biophilicsavanna-like scenes as biophilic stimuli before, during and/or aftersurgery and other medical procedures to promote relaxation, reducepatient stress and expedite patient recovery.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a method whichsupplements visual biophilic stimuli with sound, aromatic and/or otherstimuli for promoting medical patient relaxation, reducing patientstress and expediting patient recovery.

It is yet also an object of the present invention to provide aconvenient changeable visual display means for displaying one or morebiophilic pictures for which a predetermined patient has a biophilicaffinity, in a facility associated with a stressful environmental, suchas in a facility for the performance of diagnostic, treatment orsurgical procedures, or in rehabilitation and convalescent settings.

It is a further object to provide such a visual display means tovisually expose a patient to one or more biophilic pictures before,and/or after performance of surgery or other procedures on the patient.

It is also an object to provide a means for patient choice in selectinga visual display; such choice promotes the patient's self-efficacy,which thereby reduces stress and which promotes health and well being.

It is yet a further object to provide a person with a visual displaymeans with one or more biophilic pictures as biophilic stimuli forpromoting personal relaxation, for reducing physical and/orpsychological stress, and, for persons in a hospital setting, forexpediting recovery time.

It is yet another object of the present invention to augment theforegoing visual exposure of persons to biophilic scenes by providingsound recordings conducive to causing patient relaxation.

It is a further object of the present invention to further augment theforegoing visual exposure of persons to biophilic scenes by alsoproviding therapeutic aromatic materials to the patient.

It is yet another object to provide a method of promoting patientrecovery while the patient is in a hospital bed by displaying thebiophilic pictures on a structural surface such as upon a ceiling, upona self-standing support stand or upon a vertically draped curtainsubstantially near the article of furniture, wherein the picture ispositioned to allow the patient to readily and comfortably view thebiophilic picture.

It is yet another object to improve over the disadvantages of thebackground art directed toward complicated electronic sound-orientedrelaxation devices for surgical, medical and other patients.

It is yet another object to improve over the disadvantages of thebackground art directed toward expensive, optical glare-producinglighted electronic screen displays of pictures.

It is yet another object to improve over the disadvantages of the priorart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In keeping with these objects and others which may become apparent, thepresent invention provides a method of relaxing a person in a stressfulenvironment, such as a patient in a health care, hospital orconvalescent setting, by providing a person with a choice of selectingfor viewing one or more high resolution spatially open, serene naturalpictorial landscape scenes to which the person is believed to have aninnate positive (biophilic) affinity, upon a conveniently viewabledisplay, such as a ceiling mounted surface or upon a fabric framedisplay member mounted upon a flexible wall partition, such as ahospital curtain. In one embodiment, the spatially open, serene naturallandscape scene is a savanna-type landscape or a like scene to whichhumans are believed to have a biophilic affinity.

A biophilic landscape picture of the present invention is printedpreferably on a flexible fabric by a high resolution sublimationprinting process, wherein an image is first scanned into a computer andthen transformed by state-of-the-art technology to the fabric, such asdescribed in the “Background of the Invention” herein. The image mayalso be printed directly on all or a portion of a hospital curtainitself.

Because of institutional safety requirements, such as hospital safetyprotocol and safety codes (i.e., what is referred to as “National FireProtection Association (NFPA) 70111 codes), the display member, such asa fabric, must either be inherently flame retardant or specially treatedto meet protocol or code requirements.

Moreover, in accord with hospital sanitary protocol, the fabric sheetpieces and inks thereon should be washable and durable to heated washingstandards of 160° F. so that any infectious organisms thereon areeradicated.

The printing produces substantially glare-free photorealistic images ofsufficient size (e.g. four by five feet) to give the person, such as ahospital patient, the perception of actually being in a natural (i.e.,biophilic) setting. Printing the photo-realistic image is accomplishedon inherently fire retardant or treated fabric in a manner that upholdsthe post-printing fire retardancy of the fabric and that enables thefabric to be laundered and disinfected at the required high water anddrying temperatures required by hospital sanitary codes and standardswithout substantially degrading the image quality of the picture.

In order to display the visual display member, on a reverse side of thefabric one or more fastening means, such as strips of hook-and-loop-typefasteners, sold under the trade name of VELCRO®, are attached.

Corresponding strips of hook-and-loop type fasteners are attached to aportion of a wall support, such as a hospital room curtain, which atleast partly encloses a hospital patient's bed.

Other conventional fasteners such as snaps, safety pins, clips, etc.,may be substituted or additionally employed, such as curtain rod hookswhich fit into eyelet grommets in a mesh flange above the image bearingfabric, so that the visual display member may be displayed from thecurtain rod.

In the curtain mounted environment, by attaching the fabric picture tothe patient-facing side of the hospital curtain, the biophilic landscapepicture can remain visible to the targeted patient in the bed even whenthe curtain is contracted.

During visiting hours, when the curtain is normally partially expanded,the landscape picture can be left visible on a portion of the curtain.

Preferably, the picture should be attached so that it is visible at thefoot of the patient's bed, within the patient's line of vision.

In conjunction with exposure of the person to the spatially open, serenenatural landscape picture, the patient may be provided with soothingnatural sounds appropriate to the landscape picture and/or mild-aromaticodors reminiscent of natural aromas associated with the landscapepicture.

In selecting a spatially open, serene natural landscape for the patientto view, it is important that the person in a stressful environment,such as a medical patient, not be exposed to over-exciting or anxietyproducing landscape scenes, (which may unconsciously raise the stresslevel of the patient and/or may affect the visual and auditory nervebalance mechanisms of the patient).

Therefore, selection of the biophilic visual image to be conveyed to thepatient preferably encompasses selection of spatially open, serenelandscape scenes which are substantially the same as, or similar to, thearchetypal savanna-type landscape scenes, suggested by Ulrich, Wilsonand other scientific authorities on biophilia.

The subjects of a biophilic scene, or other spatially open, serene,natural landscapes must be carefully chosen and the natural scenesshould be selected in relation to the most recent relevant environmentalpsychology research (such as defined by Ulrich). Although pre-datingboth the 1984 seminal work by Wilson and the subsequent 1993 publicationof Ulrich, an example of environmental psychology methodology researchon differential human perceptions of varying outdoor scenes is the 1974work of Shafer and Richards entitled “A Comparison of Viewer Reactionsto Outdoor Scenes and Photographs of These Scenes”, (Shafer et al.,1974, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service Research Paper No.NE-302, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station, Forest Service,U.S.D.A., Upper Darby, Pa.)

In the Shafer and Richards study, eight different types of outdoorscenes were shown to viewers in three different modes: (i) on-siteviewing of the actual scenes; (ii) viewing color transparencies of thescenes; and (iii) viewing color photographic prints of the scenes.Viewer responses to each scene were compared statistically andgeographically to determine which outdoor scenes had more positiveeffects on the viewers.

Upon selection of the picture to be displayed to the patient, it shouldbe conveniently displayed, such as on the hospital curtain, as notedbefore.

However, other embodiments of the present invention include other visualdisplay means not previously described in this application. One suchother kind of embodiment is a wall-or ceiling mountable, roll-up-ableand roll-down-able screen depicting a spatially open, serene naturallandscape scene (preferably a biophilic savanna-type scene).

Unlike the generalized nature photography described in Fischer '428 andthe Fischer “Visual Therapy” publication, the present invention appliesthe latest research findings and theory in the behavioral and naturalsciences to the selection and installation of appropriate naturephotography scenes in stressful environments, such as hospital rooms andother settings, such as health care or educational institutions,hospitality accommodations, office cubicles or waiting rooms. It does soin a manner that creates a simulated natural environment to reducestress and to promote the person's relaxation.

The selection of healing and recovery-promoting natural landscape scenesrequires knowledge of the latest research findings concerning the healtheffects of viewing biophilic nature scenes, since not all naturallandscape scenes have a therapeutic affect. In fact, uninformed,improper or inappropriate picture selection has been shown to havedeleterious effects on patients, disturbing them rather than promotingtheir healing.

What is essential in the selection process is that the visual stimulinot merely tend to “involve, distract and occupy the attention of theviewer” but that such elicited patient responses promote the patient'shealing and recovery. The present invention reflects an understanding ofhow to stimulate such viewer-based recovery responses because it isbased on a firm foundation of the latest research findings andtheoretical research focusing on the biophilic effects of viewing natureon human health outcomes. This research, by Wilson, Heerwagen, Orians,and Ulrich et al informs the user of the appropriate method of selectionof recovery promoting biophilic natural landscape scenes.

Merely placing a picture on a wall, such as in a hospital room, whetherin a frame, a light box or a video screen, is not sufficient to promotepatient recovery. The Fischer '428 background art on hospital room wallsis located at too remote a distance from the patient to promote thepatient's perception of being in the environment represented by thepicture. Moreover, while the Fischer “Visual Therapy” publicationdescribes the lighted depiction of large photographs from light boxes orvideo screens, the light emitting features of the light boxes or videoscreens may produce stressful unwanted optical glare.

Furthermore, viewing of wall mounted light boxes and video screens canbe obstructed by fabric hospital curtains drawn between a patient and ahospital room wall.

Therefore, one embodiment of the present invention is distinguished fromthe background art by providing very large sized high resolution photorealistic biophilic natural landscape scenes that, by being printed onflexible fabric, enable these scenes to be removably mounted on thepatient's bedside cubicle privacy curtain in the patient's directline-of-sight at the foot of the bed, thereby providing the patient withan immediately close-up simulated natural visual environment.

Since wall-mounted art described in the background art has thedisadvantage of being obscured from the patient's view whenever thecubicle curtain is drawn to provide privacy to the patient, the patientis therefore caused to have to choose to either have personal privacy orto be able to view the wall-mounted photography.

With the above-described embodiment of the current invention, thepatient no longer has to suffer the above described dilemma. It providesthe person with an opportunity to choose one or more preselectedbiophilic scenes that, by virtue of their placement on the cubiclecurtain, can be viewed at the discretion of the person any hour of theday or night without the glare of a video screen or the remoteness of awall mounted frame. With the embodiment of the present invention theperson is not forced to choose between having personal privacy orviewing wall-mounted nature photography.

On the contrary, with this embodiment of the present invention theperson is able to enjoy the benefit of (or exercise the choice ofhaving) personal privacy while simultaneously having the opportunity toview selected restorative biophilic nature photography.

An additional embodiment of the latter-described embodiment augments thevisual dimension of the environment with complementary audio recordingsof biophilic sounds appropriate and specific to each scene.

Still another embodiment augments the visual and audio stimuli witharomatic scents that are appropriate and specific to each scene.

Also, the method of the present invention may allow (after a set ofspatially open serene natural landscape scenes is selected by theperson's care giver) the person to select one or more of these scenes.This alternative variation permits patients to exercise choice, therebyimproving the patient's self-efficacy and ultimate recovery. Moreover,the biophilic or other spatially open, natural serene landscape scenesmay be visually displayed substantially glare-free in other medical orconvalescent environments, such as in the offices of healthpractitioners, (e.g., physicians, dentists, acupuncturists,chiropractors, and physical therapists). Other appropriate settingsinclude diagnostic rooms at hospitals, adult day care centers, otherinstitutional settings and/or at an office or at a private residence(such as where an infirm person might be confined to a particular roomfor extending periods of time while recovering from illness or surgery).

In addition, the visual display may be supported upon a horizontal upperrod of a self standing support stand, which can be conveniently movedabout a room. Alternately, the display may be upon a flat member anddisplayed upon one or more ceiling surfaces, to be seen by persons in aface up, supine position, such as lying upon a hospital gurney. Aplurality of ceiling mounted images may be provided at intermittentceiling positions along a corridor, so that a person lying face up upona gurney can view a series of ceiling mounted images while being moved.

The grommet-mounted embodiment allows the visual display, such as aphotomural, to be hung in direct view of the patient, using existingconventional hardware in the hospital or other healthcare facility room.It offers the facility two advantages over the VELCRO® mountedapplication:

1) it does not require any prior preparation of the existing curtain inorder to receive this photomural e.g. no sewing of VELCRO®,

2) because the visual display, such as a photomural, is attached higherup and closer to the ceiling, it is less likely to be stolen.

Additional, in a portable stand-mounted embodiment, the visual display,such as a photomural is hung from a self-standing portable stand byinserting the stand's removable top horizontal piece through a sleevewhich runs across the top of the visual display photomural.

The portable stand is placed in direct line of sight of the patient,usually at the foot of the patient's bed, gurney or recliner.Alternatively, for patients who are receiving chemotherapy, dialysis orother treatment where they are side by side with other patients, theportable stand can, by being placed at the patient's side, serve as aprivacy screen between patients.

Additionally, auditory sounds can be played through a cassette or CDplayer or broadcast on a channel of an in-house television system.

The portable stand adds considerable flexibility of use for bothinstitutional as well as home healthcare and home stress reductionapplications.

For institutions, the portable stand allows the staff to utilize thisbiophilic environment for multiple patients on an “as needed” basis. Theportable stand is lightweight and is easy for a single staff person totransport. This portability makes it easy, for example, for a staffperson to bring it directly to a patient who is anxious and is havingdifficulty falling asleep in order to help relax that patient and,thereby, assist them in failing asleep.

The portable stand allows the institution to also flexibly respond tothe needs of specific populations of patients. For example, it allowsthe staff to use it, as an early intervention, alternative to physicaland pharmacological restraints, to distract and relax Alzheimer'spatients who are exhibiting “catastrophic reactions”.

The portable stand allows institutions to provide the stress reducingbenefits of the biophilic environment in settings where there are noapproximately located cubicle curtain tracks to hang it from, or wherethe position of the existing tracks is not ideal for optimal viewing bythe patient, e.g. for bathing, hydrotherapy, occupational, physicaltherapy and other rehabilitation, intensive care (ICU's, CCU's), privaterooms, waiting rooms, conference, meeting or quiet or meditative roomsfor family/physicians conferences or personal reflection and repose),etc.

The stand may also be used in private residential homes forconvalescence, long-term care, palliative (or hospice) care, treatmentand general “well-person” stress reduction.

As with the institutional applications, the stand can be used in privateresidential homes to display biophilic and other therapeutic visualmaterial specifically targeted to the needs of particular populations,e.g. Alzheimer's patients, depressed individuals (e.g. whose therapeuticneeds may be for stimulation and inspiration) pediatrics patients, orhealthy infants, to be used to stimulate the infant's cognitivedevelopment.

The portable stand-mounted biophilic visual display environment can alsobe used for business offices or hospitality accommodations, such ashotel rooms, and other public settings as a stress reductionenvironment, wherein it can be used in work areas, meeting rooms,cafeterias, employee lounges, etc.

Furthermore, in the settings enumerated above as well as waiting roomsof all types, the biophilic environment can alternatively be installedby mounting the visual display on a simple curtain rod attached to awall or partition. The display, such as a photomural, is hung in thismanner by sliding the rod through the sleeve across it's top. The soundscan be played through a cassette or CD player or broadcast on a channelof an in-house audiovisual system or other sound reproduction ortransmittal system.

The biophilic images may alternatively be mounted on the ceiling abovethe patient. Such mounting can utilize simple tacks or otherconventional devices.

This application allows patients whose diagnosis, treatment orconvalescence requires them to be in a reclining position, to experiencethe therapeutic benefits of the biophilic environment.

This application is also for institutional and home healthcare/well caresettings, offices, hospitality accommodations, work areas, employeelounges, waiting rooms, etc.

The biophilic environmental displays can promote stress reduction ofemployees and customers. These embodiments include:

a) photomurals printed on flexible textile fabric mounted on portablestands or walls, window shades, venetian blinds and other windowtreatments, augmented by recordings of ambient biophilic nature sounds(broadcast by on-site cassette or CD players or through acentralized-sound system) or other sound reproduction systems.

b) modular office dividers/cubicles with biophilic views in theemployees' or waiting customers/clients' line of sight (i.e. above thedesktops or tops of seating arrangements or along corridors created bysuch the modular dividers) with or without built-in (i.e.self-contained) ambient environmental sound devices.

Such sound devices are already on the market; however they are not beingutilized in this manner.

Moreover, in biophilic ceiling panel healing environments, visualdisplays may also include ceiling panels. In this ceiling mountedembodiment, biophilic visual displays, such as photomurals, are attachedto ceiling panels that fit into standard ceiling metal grids. They canbe used as single panels or can used in multiples to simulate biophilicnatural scenes on the ceiling of corridors so as to provide anxiety andstress reduction benefits to patients as they are transported throughthe hospital corridors. The sounds may be broadcast from a centralizedsource and heard in each location by means of ceiling or wall mountedspeakers.

Patients are routinely transported through hospital corridors, going toand from diagnosis, treatment and surgery. These are usually times ofintense anxiety and stress for the patients. These states ofpsychological distress have been shown to suppress immunologicalfunctioning and thereby hinder the patients' physiological recovery. Thepresent invention provides patients with relief of this distress duringthese critical moments of transport.

These biophilic ceiling healing environments can alternatively be usedon the ceilings of any healthcare setting e.g. patient rooms, procedurerooms, diagnostic rooms, emergency, operating rooms, etc. They may alsobe used in elevators.

In general, there are many display alternatives for displaying abiophilic visual display, such as a biophilic photomural, in thevicinity of persons in a stressful environment, such as in a hospital,medical waiting room, long term care institution, hospitalityaccommodation or office cubicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can best be understood in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 1A are perspective views of hospital room settings of twoembodiments of the method of biophilically enhancing patient welfare;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a biophilic landscape image on aflexible fabric display used with the method and apparatus of FIGS. 1and 1A;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in cross-section of the flexiblefabric display shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of roll-up-able and roll-down-abledevice for displaying another spatially open natural landscape image;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a roll-up-able and roll-down-abledevice for displaying a still further spatially open natural landscapeimagery including a substantially serene hydric feature;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hospital room setting of anotherembodiment of the present invention, showing a larger biophiliclandscape image on a flexible fabric display;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further alternate embodiment of thepresent invention, showing a ceiling mounted biophilic landscape image;

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a still yet further alternateembodiment for a biophilic landscape image display mounted upon a selfstanding support stand;

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9,showing the mounting of the biophilic landscape image display by thearrow indicated therein;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is an exploded front perspective view of the mounting standportion of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D are close-up perspective views of thejoining portions of the mounting stand as in FIG. 13;

FIG. 14 is a rear view of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a right side elevational view of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the embodiment as in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 17 and 17A are perspective views of yet other embodiments for agrommet and hook installations for the biophilic landscape imagedisplay; and,

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an office mounted environment for thebiophilic landscape image display, shown mounted upon an officepartition.

FIG. 18A is an alternate embodiment for the embodiment shown in FIG. 18,where a landscape image display is shown printed directly upon acurtain.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1-8 depict a method and apparatus for promoting personalrelaxation, for reducing physical and/or psychological personal stress,and/or for expediting personal recovery, such as before, during and/orafter a stressful environmental, such as a medical procedure, i.e.,surgery.

FIG. 1 shows biophilic picture display 12 being draped from a curtainrod. FIG. 1A shows biophilic picture display 10 being attached to acurtain by hook and loop VELCRO® fasteners.

The preferred method includes the steps of providing a changeable visualdisplay device 10, 40, 50, 70 or 80 for displaying one or moreappropriately selected spatially open, serene pictorial naturallandscape pictures 12, 42, 52, 72 or 82 for which a person 14, 74 or 84,has a predisposed affinity. Preferably, a biophilic picture such aspicture 12, 42 or 72 is utilized. Other spatially open, serene naturallandscape pictures, with specific landscape physiognomy criteria, suchas picture 52 may also be used.

In FIGS. 1 and 1A, changeable visual display devices 10, such as aphotomural, are provided in a facility associated with performance ofsurgical procedures, such as hospital room 16. Changeable visual displaydevices 10 are used to visually expose predetermined person 14 to one ormore appropriately selected spatially open natural landscape pictures,such as biophilic picture 12, printed on display device 10, whichdisplay device 10 is substantially optically glare-free and removablyattachable to a structure, such as hospital curtain 28, before, duringand/or after performance of surgery or other medical procedures onperson 14.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7, the visual display 70 of biophilicpicture 72 may be large, such as four feet in height by five feet inwidth or larger, and may take up a substantial portion of viewingportion of hospital curtain 78 in room 95, so that person 74 mayconcentrate on viewing biophilic image 72 without eyestrain produced bydistant wall-mounted pictures or large, glare producing lighted imagesfrom light boxes or other electronic video screens. Moreover, the entirecurtain may have a biophilic picture printed directly thereon.

As shown in FIG. 8, for persons who are immobilized in a substantiallysupine position, instead of upon curtain 88, biophilic image 82 upondisplay 80 may be provided upon the ceiling of room 96.

Furthermore, visual displays 80, such as biophilic photomurals, may bealso attached to ceiling panels that fit into standard ceiling metalgrids. They can be used as single panels or can used in multiples tosimulate biophilic natural scenes on the ceiling of corridors so as toprovide the anxiety and stress reduction benefits to patients as theyare transported through the hospital corridors. The sounds may bebroadcast from a centralized source and heard in each location by meansof ceiling or wall mounted speakers or provided to individual patientsby means of a personal WALKMAN® type stereo player.

As noted before, patients are routinely transported through hospitalcorridors, going to and from diagnosis, treatment and surgery. These areusually times of intense anxiety and stress for the patients. Thesestates of psychological distress have been shown to suppressimmunological functioning and thereby hinder the patients' physiologicalrecovery. Therefore, display 80 provides patients with relief of thisdistress during these critical moments of transport.

These biophilic ceiling healing environments can alternatively be usedon the ceilings of any healthcare setting e.g. patient rooms, procedurerooms, diagnostic rooms, emergency, operating rooms, etc. They may alsobe used in elevators.

As respectively shown in FIGS. 1, 1A, 7 and 8, person 14, 74 or 84 isvisually exposed to at least one visual picture, such as biophilic image12, 72 or 82 upon visually proximate and substantially glare-freedisplay device 10, 70 or 80, as biophilic stimuli for neurologically andbiophilically promoting in person 14, 74 or 84 the sequelae effects ofrelaxation, reduction of physical and/or psychological stress, and/oracceleration of patient recovery time.

Additionally and synergistically, recordings of sounds conducive tocausing patient relaxation, such as audio cassette tape 19, (or acompact disc) may be played on audio player device 18, which preferablyis a device of the type including audio tape players and compact discplayers, through speaker 20, such as amplified speakers, headphone orpillow speakers. Speaker 20 is connected to audio player device 18 byaudio-signal-transmitting cable or by suitable wireless communicationmeans or other means, for producing sounds 21.

Playing the sound recordings on audio player device is causes the sounds21 to be heard by person 14 and augments person 14's exposure tobiophilic image 12 of display 10, thereby contributing to biophilicrelaxation and ultimate recovery of person 14. The recorded soundspreferably are natural sounds appropriate to the content of biodhilicpicture 12. Alternately, audible or subliminal healing promoting verbalsuggestions or electronic sounds may be provided in conjunction with theviewing of the subject matter of biophilic picture 12 upon flexibledisplay 10 mounted to curtain 28 or other suitable mounting means.

FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively show sounds 79 or 89 entering hospital rooms95 and 96 through speakers 77 or 87 upon respective walls 97 or 98, fromremotely located audio player devices.

As shown in FIG. 1, further additionally and synergistically therapeuticaromatic vapors 25 may be optionally emitted from aromatic vapordispenser 24 so as to argument the positive effect of viewing ofbiophilic picture 12 by patient 14. Alternatively as shown in FIGS. 7and 8, respective aromatic vapors 75 and 85 may be emitted throughrespective vents 73 and 83 from sites remote from respective rooms 95and 96.

Visual display device 10, which contains biophilic picture 12, isremovably mounted on, or in front of, a structural surface, such ashospital curtain 28, substantially near patient 14 supported in anarticle of furniture 26, such as a bed, in a room, such as in hospitalroom 16. Biophilic picture 12 is strategically situated in a stressfulenvironment, such as room 16 so that person 14 can comfortably viewbiophilic picture 12 substantially without distraction and in ansubstantially glare-free environment. The presence of hospital curtain28 helps prevent or reduce such distraction from nonbiophilic visualsources, such as hospital room wall 30, or from lighted, opticallyglare-producing light boxes or video screens.

Moreover, additional biophilic pictures may be provided on otherviewable portions of curtain 28, such as to the left or right side ofperson 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, preferred biophilic picture 12 depicts asavanna-type landscape scene. Biophilic picture 12 is appropriatelyselected from a scrutinized set of pictures, and includes a wide,preferably blue, sky portion 12 a beginning along and extending abovedistant horizon line 12 b. Horizon line 12 b separates sky portion 12 afrom savanna-type vegetation comprising substantially herbaceousunderstory of plant life 12 c (preferably grasses, sedges and the like)under a relatively open canopy formed by substantially widely spacedtrees 12 d, and/or tree clusters 12 e.

Although depiction of water is not shown in the preferred embodiment ofFIGS. 1, 1A and 2, in the alternative, FIG. 5 shows display device 50 ofshade-like material 52 m with picture 52 including a spatially opennatural landscape and tranquil water body 52 f.

To prevent or reduce undesirable stimulation of the imagination or thebalance of person 14, negatively exciting or anxiety producinglandscapes are avoided in selecting biophilic picture 12. In addition,distracting 10 display means, such as optically glare-producing videoscreens are avoided.

As noted previously, according to Ulrich and Wilson, human beings arebelieved to be genetically pre-disposed to favor views of savanna-typescenes with a particular vegetation physiognomy, such as shown inbiophilic picture 12, because the environmental scene shown thereinresembles savanna-type landscape conditions under which naturalselection pressures promoted evolutionary differentiation of the genusHomo from paleoanthropoids.

Therefore, appropriate standards of selecting landscape scenes withparticular vegetation physiognomy are used to narrow the field of theappropriate pictures to choose from.

With respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, as also shown in FIG.3, display device 10 displays, on front side 10 a, biophilic picture 12printed on fire retardant flexible panel of fabric material 12 m. Rearside 10 b of display device 10 is attached to curtain 28 by conventionalfasteners, such as hoop-and-loop fastener 10 h, corresponding tohook-and-loop fastener 28 h attached to front side 28 a of curtain 28,which curtain 28 can be made of fabric or synthetic resins.Alternatively, fastener snaps pins (not shown) or other fastener devicesmay be employed to attach a display device to a flexible curtain, suchas curtain 28, or another kind of structure, (such as ceiling 81 ormovable partition 88 in hospital room 96, shown in FIG. 8) or a wall orother like structure.

If a person is convalescing at home without a hospital curtain, thevisual display means may include a picture frame, wherein biophilicpicture 12 is mountable in the frame, as long as the size of the pictureis increased to provide an intimate, proximate setting of the selectedpicture in the stressful environment, such as a person's room.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, display device 40includes roll-up-able and roll-down-able shade-like material 42 m whichis substantially rollable about an inner spindle (not shown) withinsupport cylinder 45 wherein spatially open natural landscape picture 42is adhered to roll-up-able and roll-down-able shade-like material 42 m.

In a further alternate display embodiment shown in FIG. 5, displaydevice 50 is also roll-up-able and roll-down-able shade like material 52m, which is substantially rollable about an inner-spindle (not shown)within support cylinder 55, wherein further spatially open, serenenatural landscape picture 52, also showing tranquil hydric water body 52f, is displayed on roll-up-able and rolldown-able shade like material 52m.

FIG. 6 represents a flow chart of the steps of one embodiment of themethod of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the person, such as amedical patient, is represented by reference numeral 60. Step 62represents a care-giver's selection of a distinct, limited set ofappropriate visual images or sounds, such as pictures 12, 42, 52, 72 or82 or sounds 21, 79 or 89 to establish generic patient needs criteriafor a variety of patients, such as, for example, person 60. Step 61involves a comprehensive review of medical condition of a particularpatient, such as, for example, person 60, to determine theappropriateness of providing one or more spatially open, serene naturallandscapes from the distinct set for viewing by person 60 in an intimatesetting. A further selection process includes selecting on paralleltracks the appropriate visual image 66 and related audio program 63 forthe person 60.

In the selection process, step 66 involves selecting a visual image,such as biophilic picture 12 by the caregiver, to select a set of aplurality of images (such as pictures 12, 42, 52, 72 or 82) appropriatefor person 60. Step 660 of the selection process involves thereafterallowing person 60 to select which image or images person 60 wants toview, if any. The exercise of selecting one or more images 12, 42, 52,72 or 82 by person 60 is important for bolstering person 60's feeling ofself efficacy, which promotes health and well being, and enhances therecovery process.

Similarly, in step 63 for selection of an appropriate audio program, aset of sounds is first selected by the care-giver, and then in step 630person 60 is given the option of which audio program person 60 wants tohear, or whether or not to hear the audio program at all.

The next steps 64 and/or 67 concern the respective functions of loadingthe audio program 19 into an audio player device 18 for playing sounds21, 79 or 89 on speaker 20 to person 60 and the appropriate positioningof picture 12, 42, 52, 72 or 82 in a substantially optimal location andin a substantially glare-free optical environment for viewing by person60.

The respective final steps 65 and/or 68 include playing the loaded audioprogram 19 to person 60 through player 18 and speaker 20, in conjunctionwith exposing person 60 to picture 12, 42, 52, 72 or 82 for a period oftime.

As shown in FIG. 6, the process is periodically renewed, since themedical condition of person 60 is updated in step 69. Therefore, in step61 person 60's needs criteria are periodically reviewed and updated.Moreover, the exercise of choice by person 60 in the selection steps630, 660 is updated as well, so that person 60 can terminate either theplaying of audio program 19 and/or the viewing of picture 12, 42, 52, 72or 82 at will.

FIGS. 9-16 show a still yet further alternate embodiment for a biophiliclandscape image display mounted upon a self standing portable supportstand 110. The visual image, such as biophilic picture, such asphotomural 112, includes a hollow sleeve portion 113 at a top edgethereof, into which hollow top sleeve is inserted support rod 114.

Support rod 114 is itself insertable within hollow J-shaped joints 115at either end thereof, which together with rod 114 form a top horizontalsupport member for self standing support stand 110 having vertical postmembers 111 attached by T-shaped joints 116 to cross brace 116. Thestand 110 is self supporting by virtue of its base, which includes“T”-shaped members 117 having extension sleeves 117 a, to which hollowextension members 117 a are attached “J”-shaped corner pieces 118, pairsof which are joined by horizontally lying brace members 119. In thisapplication the photomural is hung from portable stand 110 by insertingremovable top horizontal rod 114 through a sleeve which runs across thetop of the photomural 112.

Portable stand 110 is placed in direct line of sight of the person,usually at the foot of a patient's article of furniture, such as a bed,gurney or recliner. Alternatively, for patients who are receivingchemotherapy, dialysis or other treatment where they are side by sidewith other patients, portable stand 110 can, by being placed at thepatient's side, serve as a privacy screen between patients.

Portable stand 110 adds considerable flexibility of use for bothinstitutional as well as home healthcare and home stress reductionapplications.

For institutions, portable stand 110 allows the staff to utilize thisbiophilic environment for multiple patients on an “as needed” basis.Portable stand 110 is lightweight and is easy for a single staff personto transport. This portability makes it easy, for example, for a staffperson to bring visual display 112 directly to a patient who is anxiousand is having difficulty falling asleep in order to relax that patientand, thereby, assist them in failing asleep.

Optionally, portable stand 110 may have audio player 120 eitherbuilt-into portable stand 110, such as within one or more of itscomponents, for example within one or more joining members 116 a, orelse audio player 120 may be affixed thereto by an attaching means, suchas a clip, support hook or anti-theft cable for a removable audio player(not shown). Furthermore, portable stand 110 may optionally have aromadispenser 121 built-in or affixed thereto.

Portable stand 110 with visual display 112 allows institutions to alsoflexibly respond to the needs of specific populations of patients. Forexample, portable stand 110 allows the staff to use it, as an earlyintervention against the use of physical and pharmacological restraints,or to distract and relax Alzheimer's patients who are exhibiting“catastrophic reactions.”

Portable stand 110 allows institutions to provide the stress reducingbenefits of the biophilic environment in settings where there are noappropriately located existing cubicle curtain tracks to hang it from,or where the position of the existing tracks is not ideal for optimalviewing by the patient, e.g. for bathing, hydrotherapy, occupational,physical therapy and other rehabilitation, intensive care (ICU's,CCU's), or within private rooms, waiting rooms, conference, meeting orquiet, meditative rooms for family/physician conferences or personalreflection and repose, etc.

For use in private residential homes, such as for convalescence,long-term care, palliative(or hospice) care, treatment and general“well-person” stress reduction, portable stand 110 can display specificbiophilic and other therapeutic visual materials of visual display 112for the needs of particular populations, e.g. Alzheimer's patients,depressed individuals (e.g. whose therapeutic needs may be forstimulation and inspiration) or pediatric patients, wherein portablestand 110 is used to stimulate infant's cognitive development. Also, useof visual display 112 with portable stand 110 may reduce the need forchemical or physical restraints for institutional patients.

FIGS. 17 and 17A disclose grommet and hook installations for biophiliclandscape image displays 212 or 212′, similar to that shown in FIG. 1.In FIGS. 17 and 17A, respective flanges, such as mesh flanges 213 or213′, are attached at respective top ledges 212 a, 212 a′ of visualdisplays 212, 212′.

Eyelet grommets 214, 214′ are provided at selected locations along topedges 213 a, 213 a′ of respective mesh flanges 213, 213′ for insertionof curtain rod pins therein, such as curtain rod pins 215 of FIG. 17.

Typically, these embodiments shown in FIGS. 17 and 17A includes large(e.g. 42″×52″) visual displays 212, 212′, such as a biophilicphotomural, which have respective sections of hospital curtain-type mesh213, 213′ sewn to top edge portions 213 a, 213 a′ of displays 212, 212′and which displays 212, 212′ then are draped over existing cubiclecurtains via grommets 214, 214′, such as eyelets, button holes orsimilar devices. These embodiments shown in FIGS. 17, 17A allow visualdisplays 212, 212′ to be hung in direct view of a person, such aspatient 14 in FIG. 1, using existing conventional hardware in a room,such as a hospital or other healthcare facility room. It offers thefacility two advantages over the hook and loop VELCRO® mountedapplication shown in FIGS. 1A and 3. For example, using mesh flange 213or mess flange 213′ on top if visual display 212 or 212′ does notrequire any prior preparation of the existing curtain in order toreceive visual display 212 or 212′, such as a biophilic photomural,since there is no need for sewing of VELCRO® into hospital curtain 28.In addition, because the visual display 212 or 212′ are attached higherup and closer to the ceiling, they are less likely to be stolen.

FIG. 18 shows an office mounted environment for the biophilic landscapeimage display 312, shown mounted upon a support structure, such asoffice partition 313, before a desk 314 and an article of furniture,such as chair 315, of an office worker in a business office and otherpublic setting, such as in work areas, meeting rooms, cafeterias,employee lounges, hospitality accommodation, such as a hotel lobby orroom, where a person is supported in an article of furniture, such as achair or a bed, etc.

In the office settings shown in FIG. 18, as well as in waiting rooms orhospitality accomriiodations of all types, the biophilic environmentvisual display 312 can alternately be installed by mounting visualdisplay 312 on a simple curtain rod attached to a wall or partition, asshown in FIG. 18A, similar to rod 114 of the portable mounting standdescribed in FIGS. 9-16 herein. Visual display 312 is hung in thismanner by sliding the rod through a sleeve across a top portion ofvisual display 312. Auxiliary sounds can be played through a cassette orCD player or broadcast on a channel of an in-house audiovisual system87.

Visual display 312 with biophilic views, may also be mounted uponmodular office dividers/cubicles in the employees'or waitingcustomers/clients'line of sight (i.e. above the desktops or tops ofseating arrangements or along corridors created by such the modulardividers) with or without built-in. (i.e. self-contained) ambientenvironmental sound devices.

In summary, the present invention includes a method and variousapparatus'of biophilically promoting patient welfare, by exposing aperson in stressful environments, such as a medical patient in ahospital, to a preferably conveniently mounted, substantially opticallyglare-free biophilic pictorial landscape image to which human beings arebelieved to be generally genetically predisposed to viewing favorably,so as to biophilically induce relaxation, reduce stress and/or promotepost-surgical recovery. The beneficial effects of providing thelandscapes image may be augmented by providing the person with soothingnatural sounds or aromas.

Display materials, having a biophilic pictorial landscape image affixedthereto by substantially glare-free high resolution sublimationprinting, can be removably or changeably mounted as a convenientremovable flexible and lightweight display member, to a hospital curtainor other structure so as to substantially maximize exposure of a personto the biophilic image in an intimate, substantially glare-freeenvironment.

It is also important that the pictures be removable, so that the personcan exercise choice in selecting the picture to be viewed, and therebyimprove the person's self efficacy and self esteem.

It is also known that other modifications may be made of the presentinvention, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,as noted in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for promoting personal relaxation and reducingstress in an environmentally stressful setting comprising: a roomcontaining an article of furniture adapted to support a person; saidroom having a support structure facing said article of furniture withinthe room; a visual display member of fire retardant fabric constructionto eliminate glare being suspended from a top edge thereof and hangingfreely from said support structure; said visual display member beinglocated so that said visual display member is visible in the vicinity ofsaid article of furniture within the line of vision of said person; saidvisual display member having a pictorial display printed directlythereon on a surface facing said person; said pictorial display being ofa savanna-type landscape containing imagery designed to createrelaxation and reduce stress of said person; said display being producedon said fire retardant fabric by a high resolution sublimation printingprocess resulting in said display and said fire retardant fabric beingwashable and durable to heated washing standards of 160 degrees F. sothat any infectious organisms thereon are eradicated; means forattaching and permitting ready removal of said fabric visual displaymember to and from said support structure.
 2. The apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said visual display fabric is freely suspended from acurtain rod mounted on a wall.
 3. An apparatus for promoting personalrelaxation and reducing stress in an environmentally stressful settingcomprising: a room containing an article of furniture adapted to supporta person; said room having a wall facing said article of furniture; acurtain rod mounted on said wall; a visual display curtain member offabric being suspended from said curtain rod; said visual displaycurtain member being located so that said visual display curtain memberis visible in the vicinity of said article of furniture within the lineof vision of said person; said visual display curtain member having apictorial display printed directly thereon on a surface facing saidperson; and said pictorial display being of a landscape containingimagery designed to create relaxation and reduce stress of said person.4. The apparatus as in claim 3 further comprising a sound emittingdevice providing biophilic sounds.
 5. The apparatus as in claim 3further comprising an aromatherapy emitting device providing aromas. 6.The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pictorial display is alandscape of open spaces, interspersed with distinct spread apartelements including trees, to create relaxation and to reduce stress ofthe viewer.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pictorialdisplay is a landscape containing imagery suggesting environments inwhich the evolutionary differentiation of Homo sapiens from ancestralpaleoanthropopids is believed to have occurred, wherein further saidbiophilic landscape imagery includes imagery of vegetation dominated bya relatively low herbaceous understory and a relatively widely spacedtree canopy.
 8. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pictorialdisplay includes imagery of vegetation dominated by a relatively lowherbaceous understory and a relatively widely spaced tree canopy.
 9. Theapparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pictorial display is a nature scenecomprising a glare free spatially open serene natural setting.
 10. Theapparatus as in claim 3 wherein said pictorial display is a naturalsetting including a tranquil water body.
 11. The apparatus as in claim 3wherein said pictorial display is a natural setting including a wide skyportion beginning along and extending above a distant horizon line andvegetation comprising substantially herbaceous understory of plant lifeunder a relatively open canopy formed by at least one of substantiallywidely spaced trees and tree clusters.
 12. An apparatus for promotingpersonal relaxation and reducing stress in an environmentally stressfulsetting comprising: a room containing an article of furniture adapted tosupport a person; said room having a support structure facing saidarticle of furniture within the room; a visual display member of fireretardant fabric construction to eliminate glare being suspended from atop edge thereof and hanging freely from said support structure; saidvisual display member being located so that said visual display memberis visible in the vicinity of said article of furniture within the lineof vision of said person; said visual display member having a pictorialdisplay printed directly thereon on a surface facing said person; saidpictorial display being of a savanna-type landscape containing imagerydesigned to create relaxation and reduce stress of said person; saiddisplay being produced on said fire retardant fabric by a highresolution sublimation printing process resulting in said display andsaid fire retardant fabric being washable and durable to heated washingstandards of 160 degrees F. so that any infectious organisms thereon areeradicated; means for attaching and permitting ready removal of saidfabric visual display member to and from said support structure; andmeans for emitting biophilic sounds to enhance the relaxing effect ofsaid display.
 13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein saidvisual display fabric is freely suspended from a curtain rod mounted ona wall.
 14. An apparatus for promoting personal relaxation and reducingstress in an environmentally stressful setting comprising: a roomcontaining an article of furniture adapted to support a person; saidroom having a wall facing said article of furniture; a curtain rodmounted on said wall; a visual display curtain member of fabric beingsuspended from said curtain rod; said visual display curtain memberbeing located so that said visual display curtain member is visible inthe vicinity of said article of furniture within the line of vision ofsaid person; said visual display curtain member having a pictorialdisplay printed directly thereon on a surface facing said person; saidpictorial display being of a landscape containing imagery designed tocreate relaxation and reduce stress of said person; and, means foremitting biophilic sounds to enhance the relaxing effect of saiddisplay.
 15. The apparatus as in claim 14 further comprising anaromatherapy emitting device providing aromas.
 16. The apparatus as inclaim 14 wherein said pictorial display is a landscape of open spaces,interspersed with distinct spread apart elements including trees, tocreate relaxation and to reduce stress of the viewer.
 17. The apparatusas in claim 14 wherein said pictorial display is a landscape containingimagery suggesting environments in which the evolutionarydifferentiation of Homo sapiens from ancestral paleoanthropopids isbelieved to have occurred, wherein further said biophilic landscapeimagery includes imagery of vegetation dominated by a relatively lowherbaceous understory and a relatively widely spaced tree canopy. 18.The apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said pictorial display includesimagery of vegetation dominated by a relatively low herbaceousunderstory and a relatively widely spaced tree canopy.
 19. The apparatusas in claim 14 wherein said pictorial display is a nature scenecomprising a glare free spatially open serene natural setting.
 20. Theapparatus as in claim 14 wherein said pictorial display is a naturalsetting including a tranquil water body.
 21. The apparatus as in claim14 wherein said pictorial display is a natural setting including a widesky portion beginning along and extending above a distant horizon lineand vegetation comprising substantially herbaceous understory of plantlife under a relatively open canopy formed by at least one ofsubstantially widely spaced trees and tree clusters.